Grief and Gratitude
by Bishop Meggan Manlove
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Psalm 13 (from Evangelical Lutheran Worship)
1How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2How long shall I have perplexity in my mind, and grief in my heart, day after day?
How long shall my enemy triumph over me?
3Look upon me and answer me, O Lord my God;
give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
4lest my enemy say, “I have defeated you,”
and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
5But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart is joyful because of your saving help.
6I will sing to the Lord,
who has dealt with me richly.
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A Luther Heights Bible Camp alumni group has asked several of us to join them online for devotions during Lent, under the theme Grief and Gratitude. This was a good assignment for me because I have been stuck in grief. Right now I grieve for those in Israel/Palestine, Ukraine, I grieve with refugees who thought their family members would soon be joining them and then plans suddenly changed, for immigrants worried about being deported, for transgender individuals dehumanized by the very legislators who are supposed to represent them, for people living with disabilities who wonder if decades of progress towards protections will be dismantled, a public education system that helped shaped me and which citizens and politicians are determinedly chipping away at. I also grieve with friends who wonder when, not if, their government jobs will be cut after being civil servants for decades, friends living with new diagnoses, and congregations worried about their futures.
The psalmist’s cry becomes my own, “How long, O Lord?” The grief somehow opens my memories, and I remember every other death, injustice, and conflict. This last week I was with the Conference of Bishops in Chicago, a busy week to be sure. I got in a few walks and found myself brought to tears, not by our work, but by the grief and heaviness in my body and soul. The tears were at once exhausting and cathartic. It is healthy to acknowledge our grief, whether it manifests as sadness, anger, or bewilderment. We also need rituals or totems or conversations to help us move through the grief. I am grateful for the funeral liturgy, for grief support groups, for conversations, and for certain psalms that remind me that people have been naming their grief with language for centuries.
| It was good to be with colleagues this week, and there were a few conversations with these dear ones that helped me laugh and connect deeply. I was reminding that I am not alone. Praying the prayers of worship with the assembly helps me speak gratitude to God and be mindful of so much goodness. Walking around along the Boise greenbelt or on the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge gets me literally grounded and I give thanks for the natural world. Conversations around the synod, on the steps of the Idaho capital, in synod meetings, with other ELCA synod bishops, with my ecumenical collogues remind me that so many people are working for liberation and wholeness for all. My deepest gratitude comes from the well of faith, sometimes my own and sometimes the faith of another human. Memory is powerful--memories of and stories about God who is faithful, who keeps showing up with grace and mercy for the entire world. The psalmist’s words become my own again, “I trust in your unfailing love…I will sing to the Lord, who has dealt with me richly.” | The Season of Lent begins this week with Ash Wednesday. You might hear this invitation, “We are created to experience joy in communion with God, to love one another, and to live in harmony with creation.” Both the Revised Common and Narrative Lectionaries this Lent will have us reading through Luke’s gospel on Sunday mornings. One writer explained that these Lukan stories can be seen as “celebrating the persistence of God’s mercy despite stubborn obstacles.” Lent is a season of repentance, and with grief and sin and brokenness laid bare, this is a perfect time for individual and communal repentance. At the same time, I hope and pray this Lent that each of you will also witness and experience the persistence of God’s mercy and give thanks for such a gift. | |
ELCA Presiding Bishop Issues Message on Faith, Fear and the Call to Community
CHICAGO (Feb. 21, 2025) — ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has issued a video message to the church about the need to check in on one another during this time of great anxiety and fear for so many members.
"We may not know what tomorrow brings, but we have each other,” she said in the message. “And we have the promise of a God who meets us in our fear, who walks with us in our struggles, and who calls us to be bearers of hope.”
Faith, fear, and the call to community | Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton | Feb. 21, 2025 - YouTube
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NWIM Synod Partners with Luther Seminary's Faith+Lead
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Dear NWIM Synod,
I'm excited to share news about a partnership that will help us listen more deeply for God's movement in our midst.
The Northwest Intermountain Synod and Luther Seminary's Faith+Lead are joining together to provide our entire synod with free access to theological resources and training designed to equip disciples and leaders for today's ministry challenges.
We're living in a time of profound change in both church and culture. Rather than trying to fix what was, this partnership will help us discern what God is doing now and join in that work. Faith+Lead's approach combines deep theological roots with practical tools for ministry innovation, helping us move from maintaining programs to fostering authentic discipleship.
Your free Faith+Lead membership includes:
- 40+ theologically rich, practical online courses exploring everything from spiritual practices to innovative ministry models
- Public display license to use resources for Bible studies, discipleship groups, and congregational learning
- Monthly live workshops and group coaching to support your ministry journey
- Access to a private social network of ministry leaders sharing stories of transformation
Ready to start exploring? Register here -- for FREE.
Whether you're a pastor, deacon, church volunteer, ministry leader, or someone curious about deepening your faith, you're invited to join this learning community. Together, we can discover fresh ways to love and lead in the way of Jesus.
With hope for the journey ahead,
Bishop Meggan Manlove
Bulletin insert and announcements HERE
| Safe Families for Children | |
BOISE
Safe Families for Children - Treasure Valley is a program of LCSNW. We partner with individuals, families and communities for health, justice and hope. ALL are welcome!
Are you or someone you know interested in volunteering?
Join a Safe Families compassionate community!
There are so many ways to step into the gap and support parents and families in the Treasure Valley. Just fill out the volunteer application and we will find a spot that fits your ability and availability.
Complete an application by clicking on the button below,
or contact Brooke @ BMcNurlin@lcsnw.org.
Parent Cafes
Last month we announced that Be Strong Families - Parent Cafes are coming to Idaho! Click here if you would like to learn more about how Parent Cafes can support parents from all walks of life.
This month, in collaboration with Casey Family Programs, Idaho Children's Trust Fund, Anna Grace Foundation, Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, and Redeemer Lutheran Church, we hosted a mock Parent Cafe to give our community partners first-hand experience with this facilitated peer support group. Thanks to all who braved the snow to participate in this fun afternoon!
| Holden Village Welcomes Bjørn and Elise Peterson as New Co-Directors | |
Chelan, WA – Holden Village, the remote retreat center nestled in the Cascade Mountains, is delighted to announce the appointment of Bjørn and Elise Peterson as its new Co-Directors. Bringing a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, community engagement, and transformational leadership, the Petersons are set to guide Holden Village into its next chapter of spiritual renewal and sustainable growth.
The five year term of Holden’s current co-director team, Stacy Kitahata, Mark Bach, and Kathie Bach, (together known as "SMK") will come to an end in September. They will work closely with the Petersons to introduce them to the complexities, challenges, and joys of leading the Holden community. In the coming months, the Holden Board and the Holden community will gather to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of SMK as they transition to new adventures of rest, service and ministry.
Elise comes to Holden Village with extensive experience in nonprofit development, marketing, and operations. Most recently serving as the Director of Development and Operations at the American Composers Forum, she has a proven track record in strategic fundraising, financial stewardship, and fostering equity-driven organizational change. Her leadership in major philanthropic efforts and commitment to social impact will be instrumental in strengthening Holden Village’s mission and long-term sustainability.
Bjørn brings a deep background in transformational leadership, peacebuilding, and community development. His work as a Program Manager for Nonviolent Peaceforce and as a university lecturer in community development has equipped him with the skills to cultivate inclusive, justice-oriented programming. With experience in nonprofit executive leadership and global mission facilitation, Bjørn is poised to expand Holden Village’s reach and deepen its commitment to hospitality and education.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bjørn and Elise to the Holden Village community,” said Mark Schwehn, president of Holden’s Board of Directors. “Their combined expertise in nonprofit management, social transformation, and faith-based leadership will be invaluable in shaping the future of our Village.”
As Co-Directors, the Petersons will oversee Holden Village’s daily operations, programming, and community engagement and fundraising efforts while upholding the Village’s core values of hospitality, faith, and environmental stewardship. Their leadership marks an exciting new era for Holden Village as it continues to provide a space for retreat, renewal, and radical welcome.
Elise and Bjørn will reside in Holden and will begin their official duties in September. The Petersons have two children, Magnus, age 8, and Anika, 18 months. Magnus will attend Holden’s Narnia grade school in the Village.
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more...
Immigrant Family Safety and Security
As you watch the news and learn of detained folks in your local area, know that there is information available for our immigrant neighbors that would significantly help them to prepare for the worst case scenario. The WA Immigration Solidarity Network (WAISN www.waisn.org is an excellent resource.
In addition, and to save you time, the Immigration/Race Justice Group (I/RJG) https://irjgroup.wixsite.com/irjg from Faith Lutheran in Leavenworth, has compiled a packet of the basic essential documents with an extensive resource page for further informaiton, especially for schools. We are hoping to distribute these to selected businesses, agencies, and to our local school Administration. In the packet is a comprehensive family safety plan, power of attorney w/explanation in Spanish, Know Your Rights, workplace preparation, what to do after someone is detained, and more. Almost all are bilingual. They are digitized and available for your congregation. Simply contact Alex Schmidt, 509.548.7012 or lxhappns@nwi.net A power point with this information and more can also be presented at your church.
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Scholarship Applications Open!
Scholarships for New Applicants
We are excited to announce that applications are open!
Annually, we determine our new scholarship opportunities in alignment with our
mission, vision, and strategic priorities. For the 2025-2026 academic year, we have two scholarship programs open to new applicants:\
Child of LBIS/TLC Alum/Faculty/Staff Scholarship
Open to children/grandchildren of former LBIS/TLC faculty/staff and/or alum of LBIS/TLC (graduates) pursuing a degree at an institution accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Includes a one-time scholarship of $1,000
Apply by April 11, 2025
Dave Ellingson Scholarship for Environmental Studies
Open to students pursuing a degree in environmental studies (or similar) at a school accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Includes an annual scholarship of $5,000, renewable for up to four years.
Personalized mentoring with Dave Ellingson
Apply by April 11, 2025
Continue to learn more and visit our program webpage for additional information and to apply. Please share the information with those who may be interested!
We are honored to continue providing scholarships and individualized coaching/mentoring to over 30 current scholars during the 2025-2026 academic year!
Learn more
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EcoFaith Stories
Saturday, March 22, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM PDT / 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM MDT
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This EcoFaith Zoom event is for everyone who wants to:
- Be inspired by stories of ministry sites engaging in creation care
- Create energy within your congregation for people to come together around a shared love of creation, especially the beauty and bounty of the northwest intermountain region
- Connect with others in our synod who are caring for creation in ways informed by the context of their ministry site
What Is “EcoFaith?” Since time immemorial, the tribes of this region have cared for the land where we live, work, and worship. We add our efforts to theirs under the name EcoFaith. “Eco-,” rooted in the Greek word “oikos,” which means household, is at the heart of our call to be stewards (“oikos-nomos” in the Christian Scriptures). Through EcoFaith, we seek to faithfully manage the household (i.e., the economy) of our ministry sites for the good of all life within the household of God’s creation (i.e., the ecosystem).
For questions or more information, contact EcoFaithNWIM@gmail.com
EcoFaith Action Network is an ad-hoc ministry
of the ELCA Northwest Intermountain Synod
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Stewardship Resources
From Pr. Tim Brown’s Stewardship Newsletter
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Are you looking for stewardship resources to fuel your ministries and your imagination? Here are a few places to find guidance and support:
Need to make a well-used stewardship text more practical? Many church leaders and congregations have read Henri Nouwen’s A Spirituality of Fundraising, but many aren’t sure how to utilize its principles in their communities. Geared toward making the book a practical tool for communities, the Nouwen Society offers a four-week how-to guide on implementing Nouwen’s ideas in your congregation. Nathan Ball, a friend and colleague of Nouwen, developed the workbook on behalf of the society, ensuring that Nouwen’s generous spirit was paramount. Order a copy here from the Nouwen Society and take A Spirituality of Fundraising to a new, practical level in your community.
Stewardship Bible studies? Do they exist? They do, and we’re working on developing more! But an easy and affordable Bible study that your congregation could use this year is “Our Duty and Delight” by the Rev. Mark Allen Powell. This six-week video course utilizes online learning with small-group exercises to get both the individual and the group thinking about stewardship through a Biblical lens. It’s affordable, easy to implement and, most important, makes an intimidating topic easy and accessible.
Stewardship of space is always a tough question. There’s no “one size fits all” to any congregation’s curiosity about how to best steward its space and land. The ELCA is currently developing a resource to help communities of faith wrestle honestly with this question, but there are examples of churches doing innovative things with their spaces. One such church is St. John’s Lutheran Church in Madison, Wis., which decided to develop affordable housing on its historic site — read the story here. This step may not be the right move, or even possible, for all congregations, but St. John’s story is one example of a faith community tackling a hard question.
Have a great stewardship resource to share? Please send articles, books, movies and other media to Tim.Brown@elca.org. The best gifts are those that are shared!
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Tax-Savvy Ways to Support Ministry
Gifts of non-cash assets and other tax-advantaged giving strategies can maximize your impact on the ELCA ministries you care about while offering significant financial benefits. Here are some options to discuss with your CPA or other allied professionals in the coming weeks:
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Appreciated Securities: Donating appreciated securities, especially with markets at an all-time high, can help you avoid capital gains taxes, provide an income tax deduction, and help with rebalancing your investment portfolio – advantages that, in combination, a cash donation cannot offer. Use our calculator to explore your potential savings.
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Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): If you’re 70½ or older, you can give directly from your traditional IRA to charity, reducing your taxable income while supporting ministry. A QCD gift may also help reduce your Medicare premiums.
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Donor Advised Funds (DAFs): Simplify your giving by contributing to a DAF. You’ll receive an immediate tax deduction while supporting multiple organizations over time. A DAF is also an excellent way to involved family members in your philanthropy and express shared values.
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Real Estate: Donating property can be a highly impactful way to give, often eliminating capital gains taxes and providing a substantial charitable deduction.
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Beneficiary Designations: Naming an ELCA ministry as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy or retirement plan is an easy way to leave a lasting legacy.
Align your financial goals with your giving goals while enjoying powerful tax advantages. Your regional gift planner is ready to help you maximize your generosity and create a lasting impact.
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Put your faith into action with
Bread for the World’s Offering of Letters!
As people of faith, we are called to give of our time, talent, and treasure for a Greater purpose. Bread for the World invites you to use your voice to help end hunger.
Read more / bulletin insert
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Future Need for Pastoral Leaders in the ELCA
For the past 9 months, the ELCA Research and Evaluation team has been hard at work to produce this important new study on The Future Need for Pastoral Leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A few key takeaways:
- Total congregations have declined by about 1% each year demonstrating surprising organizational resilience.
- As of 2022, about 60% of congregations have average worship attendance under 50.
- We estimate 45% of congregations cannot comfortably afford a full-time pastor.
And much, much more in the full report.
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Wondering whether seminary education is right for you?
April 4-6, Signs Along the Way
In-person at the PLTS campus in Berkeley
- Engage your sense of call
- Explore what it’s like to be a distributed learning student at PLTS
- Experience a PLTS class and connect with current students, faculty, and staff
- Lodging and most meals are covered; travel assistance available to those who need it
Who should attend Signs Along the Way?
- Anyone who is interested in learning more about the PLTS MDiv, MA in Spirituality and Social Change, and Lutheran studies programs
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Please note - This event does not include information about the TEEM or TEIL programs. Those who have been referred to either of these programs should contact Rev. Dr. Moses Penumaka for more information.
- PLTS is transitioning to a fully distributed learning program with in-person intensives. So, people interested in online learning at PLTS are invited to attend.
- Signs Along the Way is designed for those in the early stages of their seminary discernment as well as those who already know that theological education is in their future. We hope you will join us!
Contact Us
For further questions, contact the PLTS Office of Admission:
(510) 559-2730 admissions@plts.edu
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Leadership and Discernment
Good questions help us see better
From Alban Weekly with Prince Rivers
The moment I discovered the profound impact of asking — or being asked — the right question was during my first experience with a clearness committee.
Clearness committees are discernment groups with roots in the Quaker tradition. As a “focus person” (the person with the issue for discernment), my job was to share briefly with the committee members. For about 90 minutes, their job was to ask me questions. The more questions they asked, the more deeply I reflected on the issue. The more deeply I reflected on the issue, the more I heard the Spirit speaking.
The right question is a powerful gift.
I want to share three simple questions for reflection that have emerged out of the field of group facilitation:
- “What?”
- “So what?”
- “Now what?”
These three questions need to be in every leader’s reflective toolkit. You can use them in small groups, action reviews, staff interventions, mentoring conversations and even as a communication or storytelling rubric to guide change management.
The question “what?” is about identifying. What is the situation? What happened? Do you have enough information, or the right information, to know what’s really going on? New leaders like to start with “how?” because they are eager to make changes, but that’s a mistake. When you reflect on a meeting that went awry, or you try to understand your congregation’s culture of hospitality, start with the question “what?” Focus on the facts and try to be objective.
The second question is “so what?” After you gather information, move to interpretation. At this stage of the reflection process, the goal is to make sense of what happened. How did you feel about what you heard in the meeting? What motivates members to respond to newcomers in a certain way? Do you notice a broader pattern of behaviors? What are the consequences of this event or situation?
The third question is “now what?” Once we’ve collected the facts and examined our feelings, we can develop action items. What are we going to do to move forward in a positive manner? What changes does the church need to make to improve the outcomes? What habits do we need to establish as leaders to be more effective in our roles?
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